Coin-controlled vending machine



April 5, 1949.

V H. C. DODSON COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1948 INVENTOE HTT'OENEV April 5, 1949. H. c. DODSON 2,466,159

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 fivyaflofim,

INVENTOR.

April 5, 1949.

Filed April-5, 1948 H. C. DODSON COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE 6 Shgets-Sheet 3 U O O O 105 ,2 5! I o o 55 5 m i O D O 0 103 1 5a 105 o l i 0 "0 0 0 0 0 o 0 0 0 0 0 0i 32 59 o fi D O 0 0 0 0 a I 42 w i 612m, 4 JNVENTOR.

April 5, 1949. H. c. DODSON 2,466,159

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 QTTOQ/VE H April 1949- H. c. DODSON 2,466,159

COIN CONTROLLED-VENDING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

April 5, 1949. H. c. DODSON 2,466,159

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 wag, m d/KW HTTOENEV Patented Apr. 5, 1949 COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Harry G. Dodson, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Ice Cream Vending Corporation of America, Beverly Hills, Calif., a corporation of California Application April 5, 1948, Serial No. 18,984

1'7 Claims.

This invention relates to a coin-operated vending machine, and particularly to such a machine for vending frozen confections simply by depositing the proper coin in a slot.

Coin-operated vending machines for refrigerated articles are well-known, reference being made to U. S. Patents No. 1,600,814 of September 21, 1926, No. 1,771,199 of July 22, 1930, and No. 1,974,800 of September 25, 1934. Th present invention permits the storage of a large number of confection packages, a minimum of movement of the rotary mechanism for package delivery, and a simplification of the delivery mechanism to avoid failure of the machine to deliver. Any type of refrigeration unit may be used in conjunction with the machine, such as Dry Ice or a mechanical unit, while the coin control system may be of the standard type. After energization of the motor by a coin switch, delivery of a package is accomplished almost instantaneously, since only a partial revolution of the delivery shaft, dependent upon the number of packages, selects, removes the package from its storage position, and releases it in the delivery chute. Movement of the delivery arms not only shifts the package laterally or transversely, but raises it off its rest position. This is important in the delivery of frozen confections because of the tendency of the package to become attached or adhere to its rack or seat. Furthermore, although the force or pressure holding the package is obtained by spring tension, the removing force or pressure is positively applied through cam action so that the package will be removed regardless of its adherence to its rest position. Also, the cams are so constructed that the formation of frost thereon or on the cam followers does not prevent operation of the delivery mechanism.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to facilitate the coin-operated delivery of packages.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved coin-operated vending machine which is simple and positive in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved frozen confection vending machine which operates rapidly upon a coin deposit, and which positively removes a frozen confection product regardless of its adherence to its storage rest position or regardless of normal frost conditions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic coin-operated frozen confection vending machine which requires a minimum of movement to make delivery of a package.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the appended claims, the manner of its organization and the mode of its operation will be better understood by referring to the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of the vending machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the interior of the door, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the delivery chute arrangement.

Fig. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the chutes of Fig. 2 taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the interior of the machine embodying the invention and taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the storage drum taken along the line B6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 4. i

Fig. 8 is a detailed elevational view of one of the delivery cam mechanisms.

Fig. 9 is a top view of the mechanism of Fig. 8, together with the delivery arms.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional View of the delivery arm support and cam followers taken along the line I0Hl of Fi 9.

Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 are detail views of the cams and followers for the delivery arms in different rotational positions, and

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of the motor and coin-operated control circuit therefor, taken along the line l5--'l5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, in which the same numerals refer to like elements, a cabinet or housing 5 has a body casing 6 and a door I hinged at 8. The door may have a decorative window or panel [0, an entrance coin slot II, a coin return opening Ha, and a delivery opening l2 with a hinged lift door 2| having a hand knob 23. A louvered opening I3 in the body 6 ventilates a refrigerating unit l4. (See Fig. 4.) In Figs. 2 and 3, the interior of the door is shown with five chutes [5 to I9, inclusive, feeding a cross chute at approximately right angles to the other chutes and which terminates at opening [2. A package 22 is shown in chute ii. The

five chutes l5 to l9, inclusive, receive the packages 22 from five respective rows within the casing 6. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the rows of packages 22 are mounted on the outer circumference of a drum 24 having a top plate 25 and a lower plate 26, and mounted on a shaft 21 roof the drum 20 are five ring seats 39 to 43, in- V elusive, for the packages 2.2, the packages resting against respective rows of pins 45 to 49, inclusive. Each ring seat comprises two rings both in the same horizontal plane, such as shown at 5| and 52 for ring seat 39.

These rings are mounted on radial notched bolts, such as shown at 54 attached by nuts 55. Five rows of ring back spacers for the packages 22 are shown at 51 to El, inclusive.

Asv shown in Fig. 4, the packages 22 rest in the grooves or elongated notches of the ring seats 39 to 43, inclusive, and are inclined forwardly against the pins in rows 45 to 49, inclusive, and rest back against spacers 51 to SI, inclusive. The packages 22 are rectangular in shape with their width in the radial direction of the drum 24, although the packages could have other shapes with their narrowest dimension in the radial direction of the drum. By this arrangement, the contacts between the packages and their seats are substantially line contacts facilitating removal of the frozen package from its rest position. A large, fiat contact surface between package and seat makes removal of the package difii cult if frozen to its seat.

The spider ring 63' positioned under plate 20 carries a row-of vertical pins 05, each pin corresponding to a notch in ring seats 39 to 43, inclusi've. These pins are contacted by a lever 10 for the purpose of rotating the drum 24 through an angle corresponding to one vertical row of packages to place another row of five packages'in position for delivery. The'lever I is attached to a gear 6'! in mesh with a gear 69., which, in turn, is in mesh with a gear 69 driven by a cam shaft II geared to a motor I3 through a reduction gear box 14 and a worm I and gear 16. Since there are five horizontal rows of packages, five sixths of a revolution of shaft II delivers one vertical row of five packages, the remaining onesixth revolution rotating the drum 24 to ready another vertical row of packages for delivery.

The spider 63 has a serrated peripheral edge I8 (see Fig. 7) which is used to hold the drum 24 in fixed rotational position during the delivery of the five packages, a wheel or roller 80 mounted on an arm BI pivoted at 82 and under tension of a coil spring 83', being held in each serration after movement of the drum by lever 10. The arm M is mounted on a plate 85 on which is also mounted a plate 89 adjustable on plate 85 by screws 81 in elongated holes and supporting gears 61,, B8, and B9. Oneside of plate 85 is supported by a bracket 89 and another point by bearing 29.

Referring now to the delivery mechanism, the vertical shaft II has five sets of cams mounted thereon. Upper cams 9| to 95, inclusive, and lower cams 91 to NH, inclusive, rotate with shaft TI, cams 9| to 95, inclusive, being positioned sixty degrees apart, except between the first and last cams, which are separated one hundred and twenty degrees. The cams 91 to IOI, inclusive,

are also so spaced on shaft II, the relative position of eachset of cams with respect to one .by screws H3 (see Figs. 5 and another being shown in Figs. 9, 13, and 14. The upper cams M to 95, inclusive, control upper arm members such as shown at I03, which members have substantial right angle portions I04 and contact or grip portions I05 which normally rest behind the packages 22 to be delivered. That is, the portions I05 of the arms I03 contact the sides of the packages nearest the, axis of'the drum 24. Under the arms I03 are arms I08 having end contact or grip portions I09 between which and grip portions I05 the packages are grasped.

Referring now to a single unit, such as shown in Figs. 8 to 14, inclusive, since all units have the same construction, the arms H33 and I98 are mounted on shafts II 0, which, in turn, have their bottom ends attached to a vertical support II2 It will be noted that the shaft II 0 is at an angle to the vertical support H2 and to the axis of drum 24 so that rotation of the arms I03 and I03 away from-the axis ofthe drum will raise the grip ends I05 and I529 so that a package between the ends I05 and I09 will be'lifted as well as moved laterally or transversely with movement of thearms. To accomplish rotational movement of arms I03, a cam follower H5 is attached by a set screw III; to a sleeve H8, which is part of arm I03 or to which arm I03 is attached. Thus, when the end of cam 9i contacts follower II5, the arm 03 and grip end I05 are rotated away from the drum. A leaf spring I20 attached to a collar I2I which is adjustably attached to sleeve I I8 by set screw I22 returns" the arm I03 to-a position where the portion I05 will pass behind the next package-22 in thatp'articular horizontal row when the drum is rotated. A collar I 23 holds the assembled arms and followers on the shaft H0.

The arm I98 is also mounted on shaft Ill! and has a lower sl'eeveportion I25 on'which is attached and adjustable, the cam follower I25 by a set screw I27. Between the arm I03 and arm I08, is a separating washer I20, facilitating in dependent rotation of the arms, The coil spring I29, anchored on the cam follower I 25 and the support I'I2,exerts suflicient pressure to hold the packages between grip portions I05 and I09 during transportation away from the drum. As shown in Figs; 9 to 14, inclusive, the cam follower II5 has a flat end portion which is contacted by the end of Cara 9| and during substantially the sixty degrees rotation of shaft'II brings arm end I05 into contact with the side of a' package 22 (see space I3I in Fig. 9), moves the ackage to arm portion I09 (see space I32 in Fig. 9), which is biased or urged against package 22 by coil spring I29. The'package is thus grasped, raised, by the fact that the arms rotatei'n an inclined plane, and moved laterally. By forming the actuating end of cams 9| to inclusive, with a sharp edge at the end, any frost on the surface of the followers will be scraped off at each contact, keeping them clean. This is also true of cams 91 to IOI, inclusive, and their followers, thus assuring faithful operationof the mechanism.

4 Now, the end of cam follower I 20 normally rests on the; circular perimeter of cam 91 which positions grip portion I09, as shown in Fig. 9. However, the follower I25 is removed, from its cam when the arm I03 moves the package away from the drum, since the 'follower- I26 rotates with the rotation of arm I08 which is rotated by arm I03,

by the tip of cam 91 (see Fig. 13) after the shaft 1 I has rotated approximately sixty degrees, which contact advances arm I08 beyond or ahead of arm I 03, and thus, removes portion I03 away from the package, permitting the package to fall in one of the chutes I5 to I9, inclusive, depending from which horizontal row the package was selected. The shaft II now stops rotating, but upon further rotation for the delivery of other packages, the arm I08 returns to its rest position. The spring I20 returns arm I03 to its rest position immediately upon release of the package, since the tip of cam 9| passes the end of follower *5 when the package is released. The arm I03 is stopped at its correct position by a stop member I36 having one end attached to arm I03 by screw I31, the other end of member I36 abutting support II2.

From the above, it will be noted that onesixth revolution of shaft II will deliver one package successively from each horizontal row of five, except after delivery of the package in the lowest row, the next and final one-sixth revolution rotating the drum 24 through an angle of one vertical row of packages. It will be noted that arm I makes one revolution per revolution of shaft II, since gears 61, 68, and 69 have the same diameters. These sixty-degree revolution sequences and the one hundred and twenty-degree revolution period are controlled by the circuit and control mechanism shown in Fig. 15 to which attention is now directed. Shown mounted on shaft II is a hexagonal plate I40 which has five regular corners and one corner removed as shown at I4I. A coin switch which makes momentary contact when a coin is deposited is shown at I43 in series with a. solenoid relay winding I44 and a normally closed microswitch I45. The armature I41 of the relay is biased to open position by a spring I48, the armature having two contacts I50 and II.

Now, when the coin switch is closed, the relay I44 is energized over a direct circuit through the switches I43 and I45 and its contacts I50 and I5I are closed, the closing of contact I50 locking the relay over switch I45 and conductor I55. Power is now supplied to motor I3 over switch I45, conductor I55, contact I5I, and conductors I56. The motor will continue to rotate the shaft II and cam plate I40 until a corner of the plate actuates switch I45 which opens the switch, de-ene'rgizing the relay I44 and motor I3. There is sufficient inertia in the system so that the actuating corner of cam plate I45 passes the switch actuating member, permitting the switch to close its electrical contact, and thus, readying the circuit for the next actuation of the coin switch I43. During a one-sixth revolution, a package from one horizontal row has been delivered, as described above. If this package were from the bottom row, then the switch I45 would not be actuated by the flat side MI and the drum 24 would be rotated an additional one-sixth revolution and then stopped by the next corner of the cam plate I40. Other types of relay control circuits may also be used.

Thus, the machine will deliver a package at each closing of the coin switch I43 until all packages have been delivered. Although only five horizontal rows of packages have been illustrated, it is to be understood that more or less rows may be handled by spacing the cams accordingly. Furthermore, b making each horizontal row independently rotatable and its rotated position controllable from the exterior of the cabinet, 21.

chute for said opening, a rotatable drum within said housing on the circumference of which a plurality of horizontal rows of packages to be delivered are arranged, a shaft co-axial with said drum and adjacent the periphery thereof, a pair of cams mounted on said shaft and corresponding to one of said rows of packages, a mounting member, a pair of delivery arms corresponding to each of said rows of packages positioned on said mounting member, each arm having a grip portion adapted to be positioned on each side of a package, a corresponding plurality of cam followers adapted to be contacted by said cams to cause said grip portions of said delivery arms to grasp a package, to rotate said arms to laterally move said package, and to separate said grip portions of said arms to deliver said package to said delivery chute.

2. A vending machine in accordance with claim 1, in which each pair of said cams corresponding to a row of said packages are angularly disposed on said shaft on said mounting member in accordance with the number of horizontal rows of said packages, one revolution of said cam shaft thereby delivering all packages in a vertical row on said drum, resilient means being provided to return said grip portions to their respective positions on each side of a package.

3. A vending machine in accordance with claim 1, in which said mounting means for said arms is at an angle to the vertical axis of said drum, said arms thereb moving in an upwardly inclined plane while removing a package from said drum.

4. A vending machine in accordance with claim 1, in which a motor is provided for rotating said shaft for delivering said packages, and rotating said drum after all packages in a vertical row have been delivered, means being provided for controlling the energization of said motor, said means including a switch contact operating ele-- ment mounted on said shaft, said element having as many contact elements as there are horizontal rows of packages on said drum.

5. A vending machine comprising a drum adapted to rotate on a vertical axis, a plurality of horizontal annular rows of package seats at- I tached to the periphery of said drum, said seats being arranged in vertical alignment, a pair of independently movable arms for each horizontal row of seats, grip portions on the ends of said arms, the rest positions of said grip portions being on opposite sides of a package on one of said seats, a shaft on which each pair of said arms is pivoted, cam follower means on said shaft for each of said respective arms, and cams for contacting said followers to move said arms a predetermined distance during rotation of said cams through a predetermined angle and for separating said grip portions near the boundary of said angle.

6. A vending machine in accordance with claim 5, in which is provided a rotatable shaft for said cams, a drive motor for said cam shaft, a power circuit, a normally closed contact for said circuit, and a cam on said shaft having a plurality of contact actuating elements, said actuating eleaeea'rce ments breaking said circuit when a package has been delivered.

7. A-vending machine in accordance with claim 5, in which resilient means are provided to maintain a predetermined pressure between the .grip portions of said arms to support said package during transportation from said drum, one of said cams having a contact means for removing said pressure at a predetermined position of said arms.

8. A vending machine in accordance with claim 5, in which a chute is provided in said machine, the separation of said grip portions releasing a package into said chute.

9. A vending machine comprising means for supporting a plurality of packages in said machine, a pair of arms, grip portions on said arms and adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of one of said packages, respective cam followers connected to said arms for moving said arms in the same direction, and respective actuating cams for rotating said cam followers in the same direction, one of said cams successively moving one of said grip portions into contact with said package, moving said package into contact with said other grip portion and moving said grip ortions and package a predetermined distance, said other cam advancing said second mentioned grip portion faster than said first mentioned grip portion at the end of said predetermined distance.

10. A vending machine in accordance with claim 9, in which a mounting is provided for said arms and said cam followers, said mounting being a shaft positioned at an angle to the Vertical, said package moving in an upwardly inclined plane during transportation thereof by said grip portions.

11. A vending machine in accordance with claim 9, in which is provided a shaft for said cams, a motor for said shaft, a power circuit for said motor, circuit contact means, and contact actuating means on said shaft, said last mentioned means breaking and making said circuit when said grip portions are separated.

12. A coin controlled vending machine for re frigerated packages comprising a casing, a refrigerating unit in said casing, a cylindrical drum rotatable on a Vertical axis, a series of horizontal rows of package seats around said drum and arranged in vertical rows, a ring attached to said drum, a rotatable member for contacting said ring for rotating said drum the distance between two adjacent vertical rows of said package seats, a shaft for rotating said member, a motor for rotating said shaft, a plurality of cams mounted on said shaft, one pair of cams controlling the delivery of packages from each horizontal row of package seats, a pair of package delivery arms for each horizontal row of package seats, and gear means between said shaft and said member, said cams being so disposed on and around said shaft and said gear ratios being such that the packages from one vertical row of seats are delivered and said drum rotated the distance between two adjacent vertical rows of seats during one revolution of said shaft. 7

13. A coin controlled vending machine in accordance with claim 12, in which a cam having actuating points corresponding to the number of horizontal rows of package seats is rotatable by said shaft to de-energize said motor, said motor being de-energized after the delivery of a package from each horizontal row except the last row to permit rotation of said drum by said motor to the next vertical row of package seats, one of said actuating points of said cam de-energizing said motor after said rotation of said drum.

14. A coin controlled vending machine in accordance with claim 12, in which a pair of said package delivery arms have extensions in substantially the same vertical plane and grip portions at the ends of said extensions adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of a package to be removed from one of said seats, one of said cams of said pair of cams rotating said extensions to cause said grip portions to remove a package from one of said seats a predetermined distance from said drum, the other cam of said pair advancing one grip portion from said package at the end of said predetermined distance to re lease said package.

15. A coin controlled vending machine in accordance with claim 14, in which resilient means are attached to one of said delivery arms to provide a predetermined pressure between said grip portions and said package.

16. A package delivery mechanism comprising a verticaldrive shaft, a pair of cams on said shaft, the operating ends of said cams being angularly disposed on said shaft, a stub shaft positioned adjacent said drive shaft, a pair of independently rotatable arms mounted on said stub shaft, 2, pair of respective cam followers for rotating said arms when contacted by said cams, grip portions on the ends of said arms for positioning on opposite sides of a package, and independent spring tensioning means for each of said arms, rotation of said drive shaft making contact between one of said cams and one of said cam followers to cause one of said grip portions to contact said package, move said package to said other grip portion, and move said grip portions and said package to a predetermined point, one of said tensioning means maintaining a predetermined pressure between said grip portions and said package, further rotation of said drive shaft making contact between said other cam and said other cam follower to cause one of said grip portions to be advanced faster than said first mentioned grip portion.

17. A package delivery mechanism in accordance with claim 16, in which the axis of said stub shaft is at an angle to the axis of said drive shaft, rotation of said arms, grip portions, and package being in an upwardly inclined plane.

HARRY C. DODSON.

No references cited. 

